Packaging machine



DGQ 31, 1968 w. c. CHRISTINE ET AL 3,418,786

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1965 Sheet INVENTOR I WILLIAM c. CHRISTINE JOSEPH E. PIERCE BY J ATTORNEY Dec. 31, 1968 w, c, s r ET AL 3,418,786

PACKAGING MACHINE Sheet 2 of 8 Filed June 28, 1965 INVENTOR WILLIAM C CHRISTINE JOSEPH E. PIERCE BY 4%,, i ATTORNEY Dec. 31, 1968 w. c. CHRISTINE ETAL 3,418,786

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 28. 1965 Sheet 3 of 8 r; F F 84 Bv-P 86 s I 9/ ,,e3

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PACKAGING MACHINE Sheet Filed June 28. 1965 H6. IO

m BE I P E H n M3 L0 LJ W w i; ATTORNEY Dec. 31, 1968 w. c. CHRISTINE ET AL 3,418,786-

FACKAGING MACHINE Sheet Filed June 28. 1965 zszxxx FIG."

INVENTOR ILLIAM C CHRISTINE JOSEPH E PIERCE 2 6 m 3 B2) mum Fu a ATTORNEY Dec. 31, 1968 w, c, c ms'n g ET AL 3,418,786

PACKAG ING MACHINE Filed June 28. 1965 Sheet 6 of 8 i /i 140 L A (3/ m3 INVENTOR WILLIAM C. CHRISTINE JOSEPH E. PIERCE AZM 2 prrromqw Dec. 31, 1968 w.c. CHRISTINE ET AL I 3,418,786

Y PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 28. 1965 Sheet 7 of 8 use :94 189, zqa L I o n L O a== 499 O 37 i o l o 2 m9, L f o o L I90 19/ I94- i I *1 I87" 20/ 198 24 1' o o o 200 O O O O 214 O O O O O O O O O O O O 194 205 208 I99 if Q I :91

FIG 22 INVENIOR WILLIAM c. CHRISTINE JOSEPH E. PIERCE dawn/ ZY I ATTORNEY Dec. 31, 1968 w. c. CHRISTINE ET AL 3,418,786

PACKAGING MACHINE Sheet Filed June 28, 1965 rae FIG. 23

FIG. 25

Fig 26 208 kw I45 INVENTOR H628 WILLIAM C. CHRISTINE JOSEPH E. PIERCE BY j ATTORNEY 3,418,786 PACKAGING MACHINE William C. Christine, Catasauqua, and Joseph E. Pierce,

Allentown, Pa., assignors, by mesne assignments, to

A.E.I. Corporation, Bethlehem, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 28, 1965, Ser. No. 467,279 9 Claims. (Cl. 53-282) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A packaging machine for filling containers or packets with dry powdered material such as food products wherein packets or containers are moved below a hopper to receive predetermined quantities of dry powdered materials and wherein lids are subsequently placed on the containers which are filled with predetermined quantities of material.

The present invention relates to a method of and means for filling containers or packets with powdered materials, and more particularly to a machine for filling packets or packages with dry powdered food products.

An object of the present invention is to provide a packaging and filling machine which includes a means for moving a plurality of packets or containers into a position below a hopper whereby a predetermined quantity of dry powdered materials, such as coffee, sop, tea, chocolate, or the like, is discharged into the containers and whereby subsequently covers or lids are automatically placed on the filled containers so that the filled containers can then be moved to a loading station or the like.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the character described which will fill containers or packets very quickly and efiiciently, and wherein with the present invention die-cut covers are supplied at the proper time, the present invention being constructed so that it can be easily opened to permit cleaning thereof, and wherein there is provided a novel means or mechanism for sealing the covers or tops on the filled containers or cups.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine wherein dusting or splashing of the food products in the containers is eliminated due to the novel means of dropping or discharging the powdered food products into the containers, and wherein there is provided a safety feature for the packets so that damage to the packets will be prevented, there being a control means for insuring that the various parts operate and function in the proper manner at the proper time.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a method of and means for filling containers or packets with dry powdered product, and wherein the present invention includes various novel features, such as an improved packet feed mechanism and improved hopper arrangement, a cover feed mechanism and a vacuum mechanism, and wherein the present invention provides a uniform fill within standards and limits such as those established by the Food and Drug Administration.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described which includes a novel filling mechanism as well as a method of dispensing covers on to the containers and sealing the same in place, and where there is also provided a take-off system to take off a plurality of the containers simultaneously and reorient the containers for placement or positioning on a desired location, and wherein the present invention is adapted to use a material that may have a substantial amount of aeration, and wherein the material can be vibrated to cause the air to be expelled to thereby "United States Patent get a compact product with less residual moisture and less oxidation destruction.

Another object is to provide such an apparatus that is efiicient in operation and which is fool-proof in use whereby a plurality of containers can be filled with product in the shortest time and at the lowest possible cost.

These and other objects, features and purposes will become more apparent when taken in connection with the following detailed description and illustrations thereof in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away in section and showing the drive mechanism of the various elements.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and showing the intermittent drive of the conveyor.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cup dispensing mechanism.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical fragmentary view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 and showing the cup holding mechanism in one position.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the cup holding mechanism in another position.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cup holding mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 1010 of FIG. 5 illustrating the means for operating the cup holding mechanism.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the material dispensing hopper.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 11, and showing the hopper in operative position.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken on line 1414 of FIG. 11 and illustrating the auger drive mechanism of the hopper.

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the container top dispensing mechanism.

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 17--17 of FIG. 16 illustrating the mechanism in its uppermost position.

FIG, 12? is similar to FIG. 17 but illustrating the mechamsm in its uppermost intermittent position.

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 but illustrating the mechanism in its lowermost position.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken on line 2020 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the container concentrating mechanism in a first position.

FIG. 22 is similar to FIG. 21 in which the containers are compacted in one direction.

FIG 23 is a view similar to FIG. 21 with the containers compacted in both directions.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 24 24 of FIG. 22.

FIG. 25 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 2525 of FIG. 23.

FIG. 26 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2626 of FIG. 23.

FIG. 27 is a sectional view taken on line 2727 of FIG. 24.

FIG. 28 is a sectional view taken on the line 2828 of FIG. 26.

With continued reference to the drawings frame 30 is provided constructed of generally parallel substantial- 1y inverted U-shaped members 31 connected by a cross brace 32. A plurality of generally vertical support members 33, 34 and 35 are provided which connect the upper portion of the U-shaped members 31 and the cross braces 32. The U-shaped members 31 are spaced apart :and are connected by a plurality of shafts 36 which rotatably support an endless conveyor 37. The conveyor includes multiple plates 38, each of which has a series of openings 39 disposed transversely of the machine and such plates are connected together by a chain 40 which extends around sprockets carried by the shafts 36.

In order to drive the endless conveyor intermittently to advance the plates 38 step by step a platform 41 is mounted on the cross braces 32 adjacent one end of the machine. A drive motor 42 is disposed beneath the platform 41 and is connected thereto by fasteners 43 or in any other desired manner. The motor 42 has a drive shaft 44 on the outer end of which is fixed a sprocket 45 which drives a chain 46, and such chain extends upward-1y through a slot or opening 47 in the platform 41 and drives a sprocket 48 on a main cam shaft 49. The main cam shaft is rotatably mounted within pillow blocks 50 on the upper surface of the platform 41. An auxiliary cam shaft 51 is mounted within pillow blocks 52 in spaced relation to the main cam shaft 49. In order to drive the auxiliary cam shaft 51, the main cam shaft 49 is provided with a sprocket 53 which drives a chain or pulley 54 and such chain drives a sprocket 55 fixed to the auxiliary shaft 51 so that when the main cam shaft is rotated the auxiliaiy cam shaft will also be rotated. The sprockets 53 and 55 are substantially the same size so that the cam shafts 49 and 51 will rotate at substantially the same speed.

A plurality of eccentrics 56, 57, 58 and 59 are mounted on the main cam shaft 49 for a purpose which will be described later. A plurality of cams or eccentrices 60, 61 and 62 are fixed to the auxiliary cam shaft 51 and are adapted to engage solenoid operated valves 63, 64 and 65, respectively. At one end of the main cam shaft 49 is fixed a crank 66 and the outer free end of such crank is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 67 to a link 68. The opposite end of the link is connected to a yoke 69 to which a pair of arms 70 are pivotally mounted on pins 71. The arms 70 are freely rotatably mounted on a shaft 72 carried by pillow blocks 73 which in turn are supported on the platform 41 in spaced relation to the auxiliary cam shaft 51.

In order to rotate the shaft 72, a pawl 74 is pivotally mounted intermediate the arms 70 and such pawl is adapted to engage a ratchet wheel 75 fixed to the shaft 72 so that when the ratchet wheel is rotated the shaft likewise will be rotated.

With reference to FIG. 4, it will be clear that when the crank 66 rotates through one portion of its rotation the link 68 and yoke 69 will move in one direction until the link 68 passes the main cam shaft 49 whereupon contnued rotation of the crank 66 will move the link 68 and the arms 70 in the opposite direction until the link again passes the cam shaft 49. When the arms 70 are moving in one direction the pawl 74 will engage the stops 76 of the ratchet wheel and will cause rotation of the ratchet wheel until the link passes the main cam shaft 49. When the arms 70 move in the opposite direction the pawl will be free to travel over the outer surface of the ratchet wheel 75 so that the arms are again moved in the first direction the pawl will engage the next succeeding stop of the ratchet wheel and will advance the shaft 72 to the next step. The shaft 72 is provided with a sprocket 77 on one end and such sprocket drives a chain (not shown) which in turn drives a sprocket carried by one of the shafts 46 and causes step by step intermittent operation of the endless conveyor 37.

A plurality of individual cups or containers 80 are adapted to be placed simultaneously in the openings 39 of the endless conveyor 37, and in order to do this a cup dispensing unit 81 is mounted on the frame 30 adjacent one end thereof. The cup dispensing unit includes a frame 82 supported by blocks 83 on opposite sides of the main frame 30. A plurality of upwardly generally extending vertically disposed sleeves 84, each having a slot 85 for substantially its full length, are mounted on the frame 82 and are adapted to receive a stack or supply of cups 80. The frame 82 has an opening 86 below and in alignment with each of the sleeves 84 so that the stack of cups is free to pass through the frame. In order to dispense one cup at a time, a dispensing mechanism 87 is mounted below the frame 82 and such dispensing mechanism includes a pair of upper arms 88 and 89 and a pair of lower arms 90 and 91 separated by a plurality of slide blocks 92. A separator finger 93 is mounted underneath each of the upper arms 88 and 89 generally in alignment with each of the openings 86. A holding finger is mounted on the upper surface of each of the lower arms 90 and 91 below each separator finger 93 and spaced therefrom a distance corresponding to the thicknes of the lip or edge of the cup 80. As illustrated in FIG. 6 the lower arms 90 and 91 are normally closer together than the upper arms 88 and 89 when the stack of cups is resting on the fingers 94.

When it is desired to dispense one cup from each stack the upper arms 88 and 89 are moved toward each other so that the separator finger 93 will engage the cups between the lowermost cup and the next above to separate the lowermost cup from the remaining cups in the stack. Simultaneously the lower arms 90 and 91 will move away from each other to retract the holding fingers 94 from beneath the lip of the lowermost cup and permit the lowermost cup to fall by gravity into the opening 39 of the endless conveyor 37. The lower arms 90 and 91 are then moved toward each other into their initial positions and the upper arms 88 and 89 are moved away from each other to release the stack of cups which then fall by gravity until the rim of the cup engages the holding fingers 94 to su-pport the stack of cups.

In order to move the arms 88, 89, 90 and 91 toward and away from each other at the same time, such arms are mounted on spaced generally parallel racks 95 and 96 adjacent each side of the mahcine with the teeth of such racks facing each other and meshing with the teeth of a pinion 97 intermediate te same. Then in order to move the upper arms 88 and 89 toward each other the upper arm 88 is mounted on the upper portion of each of the racks 96 by fasteners 98 while the upper arm 89 is mounted on the upper portion of each of the racks 95 by fasteners 99 The lower arm 90 which normally is disposed below the upper arm 88 is connected to the lower portion of the racks 95 by fasteners 100 and the lower arm 91 is con nected to the lower portion of the racks 96 in a similar manner by fasteners not shown. The pinions 97 must be rotated simultaneously, and in order to do this such pinions are mounted on shaft 101 which extends upwardly through the frame 82, and each of such shafts is provided with an arm 102, the free ends of which are connected together by a link 103, so that when one shaft is rotated the other shaft will be rotated at corresponding amount. As illustrated in FIG. 5, one of the shafts 101 is provided with an extension 104 which extends down wardly through the machine beside the endless conveyor 37 and preferably supported by pillow blocks not shown from the side of the machine. The lower extremity of the extension 104 has an outwardly extending arm 105 mounted thereon and such arm is connected by a pivot pin 106 to a link 107, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected by a pin 108 to a cam follower 109. The cam follower 109 is mounted on the platform 41 and is urged against the eccentric 56 in any desired manner as by springs or the like. With this construction when the main cam shaft 49 is rotated the eccentric 56 will pivot the cam follower 169 and cause oscillation of the extension 104 and the shafts 101 in turn will cause the pinions 97 to oscillate and move the upper and lower arms toward and from each other.

After the cups have been dispensed into the openings of the endless conveyor, the conveyor is adavnced step by step until the cups are located beneath a hopper 112 containing material of a powdered or granular form which is to be dispensed within the cups. The hopper 112 is mounted on upright supports 113 fixed to the upper portion of the frame 30. It is desirable that a predetermined amount of material be discharged from the hopper into each of the cups, and this may be accomplished by providing a series of angers 114 extending through openings in the bottom of the hopper in such a manner that when the angers are rotated they will feed material directly into the cups. Each of the angers 114 is mounted on a rod 115 extending upwardly through a hopper cover plate 116. A friction clutch collar 117 is fixed to each of the rods 115 and is retained in spaced relation to the cover plate 116 by springs or other resilient means 118. A cooperating friction clutch member 119 is disposed directly *above each of the collars 117 and normally in spaced relation thereto, and such members are mounted on shafts 120 journaled in a frame 121 which is slidably mounted on the upright supports 113. The frame 121 includes a lower member 122 and an upper member 123 connected by spacers 124 adjacent opposite sides of the hopper 112. In order to rotate the shafts 120 a motor mount 125 is connected to the frame 121 and is adapted to support an electric motor 126 or other source of power and such motor has an output shaft 127 on the outer end of which is fixed a pulley 128. The pulley 128 drives a belt 129 which in turn drives a pulley 130 carried by the shaft 120 which is nearest to the motor 126. The pulley 130 rotates one shaft, and in order to rotate the remaining shafts from the first shaft such shafts are connected by a series of belts as illustrated in FIGS. 11, 13 and 14. In this construction the first shaft 120 is provided with a pulley 131 located intermediate the lower member 122 and the upper member 123 and such pulley 131 is connected to a pulley 133 fixed to the second shaft. A second pulley 134 is mounted on the second shaft and is connected by a belt 135 to a pulley 136 carried by the third shaft. The third shaft which is driven from the second shaft is adapted to drive the fourth shaft in the same manner, and the fourth shaft in turn is adapted to drive the fifth shaft so that each of the shafts is driven from the motor 126 substantially continuously since the upper friction clutch members 119 are rotating continuously. Since it is desired to operate the angers 114 intermittently it is necessary that means be provided for raising and lowering the upper friction clutch members into and out of engagement with the friction clutch collars 117. This is done by connecting one end of the link 137 to the frame 121 and connecting the oppoosite end of such link to a bevel or hell crank 138 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 139 carried by the frame 30. The other arm of the bell crank 138 is provided with a slot 140 in which is slidably received one end of a rod 141 and the opposite end of such rod is pivotally connected by a pin 142 to a cam follower 143 which is retained in engagement with the eccentric 59 by a spring 144.

As the main cam shaft 49 is rotated the eccentric 59 will move the cam follower 143 toward and away from the main cam shaft and such cam follower will oscillate the bell crank 138 by means of the rod 141 and such bell crank will raise and lower the link 138 to cause the frame 121 to move up and down. Thus rotating motion of the main cam shaft 49 is translated into vertical movement of the frame 121 to cause the friction clutch member 119 to intermittently drive the friction clutch member and friction clutch collars 117.

After the cups have been filled with the material from the hopper the conveyor 37 is advanced step by step until the cups are disposed beneath a top dispensing unit 148 which includes a radially disposed base member 149 mounted on column or support posts 150 fixed to the upper portion of the frame 30. A series of spaced generally vertically disposed sleeves 151, each having a slot 152 substantially its full length, are mounted on the base member 149 in alignment with the cups 80 carried by the endless conveyor 37.

A stack of tops or covers 153 is placed in each of the sleeves 151. The tops 153 are adapted to be dispensed one at a time from the bottom of the dispensing unit 148, and therefore the base 149 is provided with an opening 154 generally co-extensive with each of the sleeves 151. A housing 155 is mounted beneath the base member 149 and has openings 156 in alignment with the openings 154 of the base member and such openings 156 terminate in a frusto-conical portion 157 having a discharge opening of a size slightly smaller than the size of the tops so that the stack of tops will be retained by the frusto-conical portion 157. In order to remove one top at a time from each of the sleeves a rotatable air header 158 is rotatably mounted within support blocks 159 and 160 at opposite sides of the machine and such support blocks are mounted on upstanding rods 161 and 162, respectively. The air header 158 is connected to a source of vacuum such as a conventional vacuum pump 158' through a vacuum line 163 connected to the solenoid operated valve 65 which is intermittently operated by the cam 62 on the auxiliary cam shaft 51. The rod 61 extends downwardly and the lower end of such rod is connected to a lever 164 mounted on a shaft 165 which in turn is journaled in pillow blocks 166 carried by the cross braces 32. The lever 164 has an upstanding projection 167 pivotally connected by a pin 168 to a link 169, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to a cam follower 170 pivotally mounted on the platform 41 and adapted to be urged against the cam 57 in any desired manner as by a spring or the like. Movement of the cam follower caused by the cam 57 will transmit longitudinal movement to the link 169 in turn and cause the lever 164 to pivot about the shaft 165 within the pillow blocks 166. Rotation of the lever 164 will raise and lower the rod 161 and the support blocks 159 as well as the air header rotatably supported thereby.

The air header 158 has a series of nipples 171 projecting outwardly generally at right angles thereto, and each of such nipples is connected to a suction cup 172 having a value 173 therein. In the uppermost position of the air header the suction cups 172 will extend in the frusto-conical portion 157 so that the valve 173 will engage the lowermost top 153 and continued upward movement will unseat the valve while simultaneously causing the suction cups 172 to engage the lowermost top. When the valve is unseated a negative pressure or vacuum will be applied to the lowermost top so that when the rod 161 is moved downwardly by the lever 164 the suction cups will be removed from the frusto-conical portions and will remove the lowermost top from the stack. In order to place the top on top of the cup it is necessary that the suction cups be rotated substantially 180 degrees, and in order to cause this rotation one end of the air header 158 projects through a slot 174 of a floating stop block 175. The block 175 is slidably mounted on a pin 176 carried in a projection 177 of a cam lever 178. The upper end of the cam lever 178 is pivotally connected by a pin 179 to the housing 155 and the free end of such lever is urged in one direction by a spring 180. A roller 181 is mounted on the air header 158 exteriorly of the stop block 175 and in engagement with the cam face of the lever 178. As the rod 161 is moved downwardly the roller 181 will follow the generally vertical edge of the cam lever 178 while the suction cups are being retracted from the frusto-conical portion of the housing.

After the suction cups have been retracted the roller 181 will engage the projection 177 and cause the floating stop block 175 to pivot about the pin 176 as illustrated in FIG. 18 until the header has rotated substantially 180 degrees and the suction cups are disposed in a downward 7 position as illustrated in FIG. 19. Continued downward movement of the suction cups will place the tops on the cups 80 carried by the endless conveyor 38, after which the vacuum will be interrupted and the suction cups will release the tops and return to their uppermost positions.

After the tops have been placed on the cups the endless conveyor will move the cups beneath a heat sealer 182 of conventional construction which will cause the tops 153 to bond to the cups 80 and seal the cups with the material inside.

After the cups have been closed and sealed continued movement of the endless conveyor will carry the cups beneath a cup compacting unit 185. The cup compacting unit 185 includes a pair of spaced slideways 186 connected at one end by a brace 187. A main cup compacting frame 188 is disposed between the slideways 186 and is provided with slides 189 received within such slideways. An auxiliary cup compacting frame 190 is supported by the main compacting frame 188 within the confines of the same, and such auxiliary frame includes side members 191 connected at one end by a track 192. A pair of guide members 193 are mounted on the forward portion of the main compacting frame 188 and such guide members are adapted to slidably receive an upper movable rod 194 at each side of the machine and a lower fixed rod 195 connecting the guide members 193. A plurality of vacuum blocks 196 are slidably mounted on the fixed rod 195, and such blocks are disposed in spaced relation to each other and are retained in spaced relation by springs 197 disposed about the rod 195. Each of the blocks 196 is provided with a pair of spaced generally parallel rearwardly extending rods 198 and 199, each of which has a roller 200 mounted on its free end and such roller is supported by the track 192. Each of the outermost vacuum blocks 196 has an upwardly extending lug 201 connected to the upper movable rods 194, such lugs being normally in engagement with the guide members 193 due to the tension of the springs 197 tending to spread the blocks 196 apart. The outer end of the movable rods 194 is provided with a roller 202 located in such a position that when the main compacting frame is moved rearwardly of the machine rollers 202 will engage cams 203 fixed to the slideways 186 to apply an inward pressure on the movable rods to overcome the tension of the springs 197 and move the vacuum plugs 196 closer together. An air header 204 is mounted on the main compacting frame 188 and connected to a source of negative pressure or vacuum by a vacuum line 205. The air header 204 has a plurality of nipples 206 connected to flexible hoses 207 for a purpose which will be described hereinafter.

A plurality of auxiliary vacuum blocks 208 are slidably mounted on the rods 198 and 199, and such auxiliary blocks normally are spaced apart a predetermined distance by springs 209 disposed about the rod 199. Each of the vacuum blocks 196 and 208 is provided with a suction cup 210 and an air valve 211 extending downwardly through such suction cups. The air valves 211 are mounted within counterbores 212 disposed in alignment with a hose connection 213 to which one of the flexible hoses 207 is connected. When the auxiliary frame is moved downwardly air valves 211 will contact the sealed cups and be unseated, and thereafter the suction cups 210 will engage the cups, and a negative pressure or vacuum will be applied thereto. The frame is then raised to remove the cups from the endless conveyor after which the main compacting frame 188 is moved rearwardly so that the rollers 202 will engage the cams 203 and move the vacuum blocks 196 and 208 toward each other in a transverse direction. Continued rearward movement of the main frame 188 will cause a plurality of prongs or tines 214 mounted on the brace 187 to pass through openings 215 in the rearmost member of the main compacting frame 188 and to extend between the rods 198 and 199 into engagement with the rearmost auxiliary vacuum block 208. When. the main compacting frame 188 8 moves further rearwardly the tines 214 will overcome the tension of the springs 209 and move the auxiliary blocks 208 closer to the vacuum blocks 196 and compact the blocks in a longitudinal direction, as illustrated in FIG. 23.

After the blocks have been compacted in both transverse and longitudinal directions the negative pressure or vacuum within the header 204 will be released and the cups will be permitted to fall by gravity into a conventional shipping container (not shown) which may be carried on a transverse conveyor 216 and thereafter moved to a point of disposition.

In the operation of the device a plurality of cups 80 are dispensed from the cup dispensing unit 81 into the openings 39 of the endless conveyor 37 as the endless conveyor is stopped during its intermittent operation. The cups are advanced by the conveyor until they are located beneath the hopper 112 which is activated to dis charge material in either powdered or granular form from the hopper into the cups by means of augers 114 selectively operated by friction clutch members 117 and 119. The conveyor then carries the filled cups to a position beneath the top dispensing unit 148 which automatically removes a top from each of the sleeves 151 and places such tops on each of the cups carried by the conveyor. The cups are then moved beneath the heat sealer 182 which seals 9 the tops to the cups to prevent loss of material therefrom.

After the cups have been sealed they are moved to the cup compacting unit where the cups are removed from the conveyor and compacted in both transverse and longitudinal directions and then are deposited in shipping trays or otherwise removed from the machine.

It is noted that means may be provided for independent operation of the various elements so that the hopper will not be operated when the machine is first started until cups have reached a position below the hopper. Subsequent operation of the top dispensing unit, the heat sealer and the cup compacting unit are controlled in the same way. Also the procedure may be reversed at the end of a run of material so that the cup dispenser may be stopped before the sequential stopping of the hopper, the dispensing unit, heat sealer and cup compacting units.

It will now be clear that there is provided a device which accomplishes the objectives heretofore set forth. While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form as described and illustrated herein is not to be considered in a limited sense as there may be other forms or modifications of the invention which should also be construed to come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A packaging machine comprising a frame, an endless conveyor rotatably mounted on said frame, said conveyor having a plurality of cup receiving recesses, means for operating said conveyor intermittently, a cup dispensing unit mounted on said frame and said cup dispensing unit adapted to dispense one cup in each of the recesses of said conveyor, hopper means mounted on said frame above said endless conveyor, means for selectively discharging material from said hopper means into said cups, a top dispensing unit mounted on said frame above said conveyor, said top dispensing means including apparatus for removing tops from said top dispensing unit and placing said tops on said cups, heat sealing means carried by said frame for sealing said tops to said cups, a cup compacting unit mounted on said frame, said cup compacting unit having means for removing said cups from said conveyor and altering the relative positions of said cups, whereby material is discharged from the hopper into said cups and said cups will be sealed and removed automatically from the machine.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said cup dispensing unit includes spaced pairs of upper and lower arms, a plurality of separator fingers fixed to each of said upper arms, a plurality of holding fingers mounted on each of said lower arms, means for moving said upper arms toward and away from each other while simultaneously moving said lower arms away from and toward each other, whereby at least one stack of cups can be carried by said cup dispensing unit and dispensed one cup at a time.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which said means for moving said upper arms and said lower arms includes at least one pair of opposed legs meshing with a common pinion.

4. The structure of claim 2 in which said hoper means includes at least one auger, and means for selectively operating said auger to discharge material from said hopper means into said cups.

5. The structure of claim 4 in which the means for operating said auger, includes drive means continuously and clutch means for selectively operating said auger means.

6. The structure of claim 1 in which said top dispensing unit includes means containing at least one stack of tops, suction means for removing one top at a time from such stack, means for selectively reversing the position of said suction means, and means for placing said top on said cup.

7. The structure of claim 1 in which said cup compactin'g means includes cam operated means adapted to compact said cups in a transverse direction.

8. The structure of claim 1 and further means for compacting said cups in a longitudinal direction.

9. A packaging machine for automatically filling containers with material and thereafter sealing said containers and re-moving the containers from the machine, comprising a frame, an endless conveyor rotatably mounted on said frame, said conveyor having a plurality of independent plates with a series of openings therein, a platform mounted on said frame, a main cam shaft rotatably carried by said platform, means for driving said main cam shaft, and auxiliary cam shaft driven by said main cam shaft, ratchet and pawl means mounted on said platform, crank means carried by said main cam shaft for oscillating said pawl means and causing rotation of said ratchet means, said ratchet means adapted to intermittently operate said endless conveyor, a cup dispensing unit mounted on said frame, said cup dispensing unit including means for retaining at least one stack of cups, said cup dispensing unit including spaced generally parallel upper and lower arms, rack and pinion means for moving said upper arms toward and from each other and simultaneously moving said lower arms from and toward each other, means for rotating said pinion means, said means for rotating said pinion means being controlled by an eccentric mounted on said main cam shaft, said cup dispensing unit being adapted to dispense one cup at a time on to said endless conveyor, hopper means mounted on said frame, means for selectively discharging material from said hopper means into said cup, means for operating said hopper means from said main cam shaft, a top dispensing unit mounted on said frame, said top dispensing unit including means for removing one top at a time and placing said top on said cup, means for sealing said top on said cup, a cup compacting unit fixed to said frame, said cup compacting unit including a means for removing sealed cups from said endless conveyor, cam means for moving said cups closer together in a transverse direction, and means for moving said cups closer together in a longitudinal direction, and means for discharging said cups from the trnachine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,729,377 1/1956 ONeil 53-39 2,897,643 8/1959 Byrd 53-281 X 2,903,290 9/1959 Morris et al.

2,972,216 2/1961 Schmidt 53-307 X 3,300,945 1/1967 Grossi et al 53-247 X 3,010,263 11/1961 Carew et al. 53-37 3,112,590 12/1963 OBrien 53-282 3,242,638 3/1966 Harris et al. 53-281 3,267,971 8/1966 Mueller 53-37 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT L. FARRIS, Assistant Examin r.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

